Indianapolis, Indiana – According to recent reports, the number of kids passing away from fentanyl overdoses is increasing alarmingly.
National Fentanyl Awareness Day is on Tuesday, and federal law enforcement officials in Central Indiana urge the public to help spread the word about the perils of this synthetic substance.
According to Yale researchers, over 5,000 children and teenagers perished from the drug in the previous two years. Federal law enforcement claims that the substance has overrun numerous towns nationwide as the opioid epidemic continues.
“Fentanyl is the most dangerous drug I’ve ever seen in my career with DEA,” said Drug Enforcement Agency Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Indianapolis Michael Gannon.
According to Gannon, federal officials confiscated more than 50 million fentanyl-laced bogus tablets last year.
“Six out of every 10 had a potentially fatal dosage unit,” he said. “So, just staggering numbers.”
According to experts, the drug’s high potential for fatalities makes it particularly risky. Anything, from amphetamine to Adderall, can frequently be added as a lace.
“Fentanyl kills,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary Myers. “And it is an extremely powerful opioid that leads to overdose with just as little as the tip of a pencil.”
The DEA reported that the majority of fatal overdoses in Marion County in 2021 involved fentanyl.
“There were 826 overdose deaths,” Gannon said. “Of them, 641 were fentanyl or opioid-related.”
More than 1,500 adolescents nationwide died in 2021 from fentanyl overdoses, according to statistics from the research. Compared to 2013, the figure is more than 30 times higher.
Parents, teachers, coaches, and other adults, according to Gannon, need to communicate with kids immediately.
“If you run the risk of getting drugs from a drug dealer, or you’re utilizing social media to get drugs, or from someone you don’t know, you’re risking your life every time you take that drug,” Gannon said. “Because we’re telling you it’s being laced with fentanyl.”
Even young children and infants are susceptible to the problem. The Yale analysis found that in 2021, fentanyl overdoses claimed the lives of 40 babies and 93 kids between the ages of one and four. According to experts, leaving narcotics accessible to people frequently causes overdose deaths.
“It’s awful,” Gannon said. “I mean I equate that to leaving a loaded weapon on a table and leaving it in a room.”
The DEA advises keeping in mind that any drug abuse can result from misuse. Gannon emphasized the importance of awareness in prevention.
